The U.S. military commander in South Korea said that the Republic of Korea-U.S. alliance should become the core axis of security in Northeast Asia.

Han Media: U.S. Forces Korea Commander Brennen: The ROK-U.S. Alliance Should Not Stop at the Korean Peninsula, but Become the Core Axis of Northeast Asian Security

U.S. Forces Korea Commander and Combined Forces Command Commander Xavier Brunson emphasized that the ROK-U.S. alliance needs to achieve transformation and upgrading in terms of functional positioning and structural aspects. On the 29th, Brunson attended the "ROK-U.S. Joint Policy Forum" hosted by the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul's Yongsan District and delivered a keynote speech. He pointed out, "The modernization of the alliance cannot remain at the level of slogans. South Korea is no longer just a part of the Korean Peninsula security framework."

He defined the Korean Peninsula as a "strategic space where the overall power structure of Northeast Asia converges," and remarked, "The strategic significance of South Korea's geographical location, military strength, and increasingly mature ROK-U.S. combined command system has surpassed national borders."

The public opinion believes that the above remarks reflect the U.S. repositioning of the role of the ROK-U.S. alliance, meaning that the Republic of Korea military and U.S. forces stationed in South Korea should not only be limited to containing North Korea, but also play a more active role in regional security order, especially in the strategic environment involving China and Russia.

Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Brunson made a strong statement. He stated, "North Korea has formally rejected the peaceful unification path and through constitutional amendment designated South Korea as an enemy state, and even mechanisms symbolizing inter-Korean dialogue have been completely dismantled."

He further warned, "Military cooperation between North Korea and Russia has deepened from traditional levels to the exchange of ammunition and advanced technology, leading to a significant risk of accelerated missile and nuclear development." In addition, the continuous enhancement of cyber attack capabilities indicates that North Korea is turning towards a long-term strategic approach rather than short-term negotiation tactics.

At the same forum, specific ideas for restructuring the alliance were also proposed. David Maxwell, vice chairman of the U.S. Asia-Pacific Strategy Center and former U.S. Army Special Operations Colonel, presented the idea of establishing a "Northeast Asia Operational Command."

Maxwell emphasized, "The current Indo-Pacific Command system is difficult to deal with multiple large-scale conflicts simultaneously," "A Northeast Asia Operational Command should be established in Seoul, and a 'fusion hub' should be set up in Tokyo to ensure the timely deployment of appropriate forces to key areas at critical moments."

Maxwell further explained, "This operational command could operate by integrating the functions of the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. military command, which not only helps address issues related to the influence of third countries but can also promote the substantive operation of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) mechanism."

Analysts believe that through this forum, both South Korea and the United States clearly conveyed the signal that the ROK-U.S. alliance must expand from a system centered on the defense of the Korean Peninsula into a security mechanism covering the entire Northeast Asia region.

Source: JoongAng Daily

Original: toutiao.com/article/1852916312919052/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author."